Date: 20th Rabi al Awwal 1442
40 Sunan of Eating:
- Halal & Tayyib
- Malik bin Anas (ra) noticed Rasulullah (s) liked eating pumpkin.
- Wash hands before eating
- Eat on ground
- Do not recline
- Make dua and niyya before eating, such as strength for worship
- Be content with what you have
- Never criticize food, eat it or don’t
- Give others the best of the meal, and do not desire it for yourself
- Try not to eat alone, but invite others
- Know who eats first, typically it is the eldest or most knowledgeable, in families it is always the husband/father who eats first
- Do not talk about worldly matters while eating, but talk about Allah, Rasulullah (s), and righteous people
- When serving or passing something always pass to the right, regardless of age or status
- Do not watch others eat
- Do not say anything unpleasant while eating
- Recite the Basmallah at beginning
- Do not leave until everyone has finished eating
- Do not stop eating while others still eat
- Stop eating before becoming full
- Balance food and drink while eating, one third food, one third drink, one third air
- Take small bites
- Eat slowly
- Do not take another bite until you have finished / swallowed
- Chew food thoroughly
- Eat from what is closest to yourself
- Eat with right hand, three fingers and thumb
- Do not blow on hot food or drink, but wait for it to cool
- Eat food that has fallen, do not waste
- Eat meat off the bone, do not remove it from bone beforehand
- Eat odd number of things which can be counted, such as grapes
- Drink in threes
- Look into glass before drinking
- Drinking milk is superior to all food and drink
- Learn adhkar after drinking and eating
- Lick fingers after eating
- Lick plate clean after eating
- Wash mouth after, do not spit
- Clean teeth after eating, do not eat food bits
- Use miswak after eating
- Be grateful to whoever served or cooked the food